NBI files grave threat sedition raps vs Sara

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed grave threats and inciting to sedition charges against Vice President Sara Duterte before the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday over her assassination threats against President Marcos and his family.

- HELEN FLORES

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said a six-man investigating panel, including him, unanimously agreed that Duterte is liable for inciting sedition and committing grave threats against the President, First Lady Liza Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez during an online press conference on Nov. 23, 2024.

"Our lawyers and myself weighed in on the case and we are one in our findings: our decision is to file a case against the Vice President," Santiago told reporters in Filipino.

The ball is now with the DOJ whether its prosecutors will file a case in court against the Vice President or not, Santiago said.

Asked for comment, Duterte curtly said, "as expected."

The National Prosecution Service (NPS), an office under the DOJ tasked to conduct preliminary investigations and pursue criminal cases, said it would check whether the evidence is "complete" before referring the matter for preliminary investigation.

Santiago, a former regional trial court judge, expressed confidence in the strength of the evidence supporting their recommendation to file grave threats and inciting to sedition charges against the Vice President. “(Our recommendation) was studied by five lawyers, in addition to me… I think it will prosper,” he said in Filipino during an interview with “Storycon” on One News on Wednesday.

According to Santiago, the penalty for grave threats depends on the crime that was threatened to be committed. The penalty is one degree lower if the threat was fulfilled, while it will be two degrees lower if it was not fulfilled.

In the case of Duterte, Santiago said she threatened to commit murder, which carries a penalty of reclusion perpetua up to 40 years in prison.

Under the Revised Penal Code, the next penalties are reclusion temporal (12 years and one day to 20 years) and prision mayor (six years and one day to 12 years).